🔗 Share this article US Jurist Mandates Trump Administration to Reopen VOA. Broadcasting equipment in a studio. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) A federal court has declared that the practical closure of the Voice of America last year was “illegal” and has commanded the reinstatement of hundreds of its journalists. Judicial Mandate Issues One-Week Deadline District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities one week to put the international broadcaster back on air. Historical Origins and Trump-Era Closure The VOA was originally established in World War Two to combat Nazi disinformation. Just weeks after being sworn in again as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to defund the broadcaster, which his officials accused of political bias. The order also included outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, stating they should be phased out as much as legally possible. Leadership Changes and Widespread Firings President Trump named Kari Lake to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the oversight body that manages and finances the VOA and related networks. Lake proceeded to fire the vast majority of the agency's employees—over 1,000 staff at VOA alone—leaving just a handful of employees in their jobs. Most of the dismissed staff have been on paid administrative leave since last year. This even applied to Persian Service reporters who were temporarily|called back to work after Israel attacked Iran last June. Judge’s Reasoning and Ruling Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake lacked the authority to suspend the operations of the USAGM workforce, as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate. In Tuesday's ruling, the judge described the decision to fire the journalists as “arbitrary and capricious,”, adding that the government had not taken into account legislation that dictate what languages and regions the VOA must serve. “The government have provided nothing approaching a reasonable basis for their decision,” Lamberth wrote. Reporters’ Legal Challenge and Reaction Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, said she was deeply grateful for the judge's decision. “We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce factual reporting, not biased messaging,” she told reporters. Unclear Future and Wider Implications It is not clear if Lake's nominated successor, Sarah Rogers—whose appointment needs Senate confirmation—will appeal. Prior to its shutdown, the VOA transmitted TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages. Trump's criticisms of the VOA are part of his broader criticism of the US media, which research indicates American news consumers view as highly polarised.